We have spent the past 4 years in the Kruger at new years.. Most camps have a special news years dinner, but that doesn't really go on past 11ish. Some camps organize a bush braai, which I've heard can go on pretty late and are more of a party. You would have to have a look closer to the time though. Otherwise.. besides the far away merriment of the staff, the camps are very quiet mostly.

The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.

I’ve been in P/KoP 4 years ago over new years and I can say it was one of the best new years I had! There were a small gathering at the swimming pool and you were allowed to bring your picnic basket and blanket and sit and wait for the time to say welcome to another year. And just a few minutes before midnight a few lions started roaring and on exactly 12 they stopped which was awesome. The staff there were the first to say happy new year to everyone with a firm handshake and BIG smiles!! No one was out of line and by half past it was as quiet as the bush around us.

Ratpack Member.

The currents that shape our lives, flow from the attitudes we nurture everyday!

I am going to be in Punda Maria camp in Dec over Old years eve and was wandering if anyone new whether the camp will organise anything special, like a late night drive or bush braai on old years eve?

They tried to organise something last year/this year. But the rain decided to make it's yearly appearence and was too unpredicatable to plan anything more than 4 hours in advance. It was just too wet for any kind of drive. To be honest at that time of year I'm in bed by 8:30pm - getting up at 4:30am everyday takes its toll.

They did have a special meal/celebration in the restaurant though.

Want to say Thank You or Well Done to a fellow 'mite? Why not nominate them for a Kudu?

@ batman: The camp does not have the means to organise bush braais.Yes; we will organise a special drive on New Year's Eve (31 December). The drive will be advertised at reception (in camp) where bookings can be made. We had late summer rains the previous season (it only started raining on Christmas Eve) and it poured down for several days and like saraf said; we decided not to take bookings for a special drive.

Don't know what the weather will be doing this year!

All the best

There is nothing like looking, if u want to find sumthing. You certainly usually find sumthing, if u look, but it is not always quite the sumthing you were after. - JRR Tolkien.

I can assure you that our HSM is very proactive to take action against noise-makers! Usually this camp quiets down after 20:00 and by 22:00 the camp has gone to sleep! I just don't know what happened during this school holiday, this camp was never as noisy as during this period; but then again there were small children everywhere. I pondered about this transformation of our small, quiet camp and came to the conclusion that there were probably much more children visiting in winter than in summer due to the lower malaria risk... Anyway; this is what 31 Dec. was like for me: I took out drives (can't remember if I did sunset, night drive or both and I can't remember if saraf was on the vehicle or not?!?) and when I came back the camp was totally quiet and no lights from campers in the camping area were burning. Three of us sat in the darkness listening to owls calling until 23:45 and then we went to bed On the 1st I took out a sunrise (early morning drive) and we came across some guys dressed in white robes standing on the back of an open bakkie travelling towards a pride of lions...when they passed us again all were hunched up in the back as they were being escourted out of the Park by the traffic police. Don't know if they were reported or if they came across a section ranger or traffic officer (or all of the above because law enforcement was out in full force over that time). The change on the transgressors facial expressions was quite funny though!

Ciao!

There is nothing like looking, if u want to find sumthing. You certainly usually find sumthing, if u look, but it is not always quite the sumthing you were after. - JRR Tolkien.

The wife and I decided to kick for touch. This year no friends, no family, no god-children and definitely no unwanted "baggage" either. Just us and 3 days of bliss n the park. Of the times we have been to the park none have been over New Year. What happens at midnight in the camps? Could anyone with experience on the topic please inform/entertain us on the goings-on. We just do'nt know what to expect.

Me and my husband were in Satara on the 31st of December 2009. That day there were a special Night drive that you could have booked that would departure at 10 that evening and be back at 2 in the morning. The tariff was a bit more than the normal one, but they took us to the picknick spot (cant remember the name) that ends at the top of the S100? When we arrived, there was a table with lovely snacks and champangne preperred for us, we did the countdown to 2010 there!

This was one of the most memorable things I did in all the years going to the Kruger! The drive itself was wonderfull! We saw 20 hippos standing in the road ( something you will not normaly see during the day ), and a few meters from the Satara gate we got 2 lions in the road as well. We stopped and realise that there were buffs at the left side of the lions. We stood there for about 20 min when the lions went for it, and I saw my first kill on the first morning of 2010! What a sight!

I dont know if all the camps did this, and if this would be available again this year? But believe me, it is worth the money!

It is surely something to consider! Yes, it is expensive, but you definitly get what you pay for! The snacks was good, chippies, biltong, crackers with cheese and then some bubbly just to hip hip hoeraa! But the sight experiance was ooh soo good!

Just something funny quickly! We were camping in Satara, and when we came back from the Night drive, we drove around in the camp for 1hour and 15 min! We coulnt find our tent!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We drove around and around and around and eventualy George (my husband) spotted a Caravan that was close by our tent! We were so tired when we woke up, and we had to pack up that same day to go Pretoriuskop. So, went to bed at 4 in the morning, woke up at 8! Already the blazing sun in December in the Kruger ( everyone knows that sun! ) is hanging high, had to pack up tent in that sun and drove to Pretoriuskop. Luckly on our way we had that lovely lunch with pap and sauce and boerewors at Tsokwane! And the thrill of the Night drive was still there, so it all made up for the tiredness!

I will definitly advice everyone that considers this Night drive to have an hour or more sleep before going on it, cause the next day is a loonnnggg day if you'r tired!

My husband and I have spent a few New Years in or next to the Park. Whatever you do I'm sure you'll enjoy the evening. If there's entertainment around you, once it dies down, the peaceful sound of the bush is amazing - even better if the 'wild' neighbours let you know they're close by!

2008/9 - I went to sleep at around 9ish and didn't wake up until the alarm went off at 04:15. Didn't hear any celebrations. The picnic sites and day visitor areas were very busy the next day and I would recommend avoiding them.

Was wondering are any camps doing anything for old years/ new years. E.g. late night bush braai's? late game drive e.g. leave at 10 came back 12? would be interesting to know. Im staying at Pkop so if you know of anything happening at this camp let me know

Hi MassimoYou will find very little going on in terms of a party im sure.I have in fact stayed at P'Kop on new years eve, back in 2007/2008 and there were no planned activities (although things may have changed)Was lucky enough to be staying with a group of friends and we just made our way to the pool area (so as not to keep the rest of the camp up) in the evening and made our own celebration (no loud music and parties obviously)We ended up having a great time as many other people had the same idea, and it ended up with about 20-30 people down there all from different parts of the, swapping stories and having a few drinks together to bring in the new year.